Roaring Years

Plot summary

The portrays the corrupt administration an Apulia town during the Fascist regime in 1937, after it has been informed, in a roundabout manner, of the visit (in disguise) of a Government inspector from Rome who has the intention of verifying if everything went according to the strict established guidelines for official economic and social planning.

The threat of this political-administrative inspection causes terror the entire city administration, who fear many of their misdeeds will be brought to light. The most fearful are those who have enriched themselves at the expense of public finance, with all sorts of abuses. In addition to public humiliation, they fear that strict measures will be taken against them. In this situation, they seek to remedy to the situation with pathetic staged measures, to make it appear that everything is undertaken according to the rules, as "honest administrators" and "good fascists."

In the film, the comic effect is increased by the fact that an unsuspecting insurer, Romeo Battifiori, who happens to come into the town is believed to be the fascist inspector. He is made the object of every honour and, of course, is utterly deceived. At the end, the misunderstanding is cleared up as the real inspector arrives …

Cast